Monthly Archives: January 2014

Phil: It’s been many years since I attended my last State of the State address as a senator, but I can’t say I miss sitting on the benches in the front of the House chamber (where we senators are told to sit) listening to Govs. John McKernan and Angus King. Ethan: C’mon, man. At least […]

The field director for Eliot Cutler’s gubernatorial campaign is no longer working for the campaign, a source with knowledge of the campaign confirmed. The reasons for Brandon Maheu’s departure are unclear, as the campaign has not responded to requests for comment. My understanding is he stopped working for the campaign on Monday. Maheu is a […]

Last night President Obama gave his fifth State of the Union. We asked our political analysts Ethan Strimling and Phil Harriman for their immediate reaction. How did the President do? Did he hit the right themes. Will this turn around his popularity? Click below to hear their insight and analysis.

Ethan: Care to pass on any thoughts about what the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has meant to you? Beyond his creating a more perfect union for those who were left out of our founders’ vision, his ability to inspire people to confront oppression is what I find so awe-inspiring. Phil: For me, history continues […]

This morning on News Radio 560 WGAN, in a wide-ranging interview with Ethan Strimling, Governor Paul LePage said he would expand HC coverage to 35,000 people, will demand more accountability for corporate welfare, and said “If drafted, I will not accept. If nominated I will not accept. If elected, I will not serve.” in response to […]

Phil: The Legislature is in session with an election year upon us. You don’t suppose there will be anything for us to opine on, do you? Ethan: So much to choose from, so few words allowed. Phil: How about the $119 million budget hole? I love how you guys say the governor mismanages money, and […]

As I look through the recently released campaign finance reports, many things are leaping out at me that I am sure I will write about in the coming days and weeks. But right off the top, this one was the most glaring. Over the past six months, Brent Littlefield, Gov. Paul LePage’s senior political adviser, […]

The debate continues in Augusta among Democratic and Republican lawmakers – whether to expand Medicaid or MaineCare under the Affordable Care Act. Democrats are in favor of it saying the federal government will pay for most of it. But Republicans say that in the long run it will end up costing the state too much […]

One Maine government welfare program shows $223 million (that’s million!) in possible fraud. Another program reveals $293,000 (that’s thousand!) in possible fraud. Which program would you focus on? The big one, right? So why is Gov. Paul LePage wasting his time and our money going after chump change? Last week Gov. LePage released data showing […]

Phil: Well, our friends at EqualityMaine certainly created a stir last week when they endorsed U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud for governor. Eliot Cutler was quite displeased. Ethan: Yeah. I’m surprised about the reaction, honestly. As I wrote in a blog this week, Michaud has been nearly perfect on LGBT issues for 15 years. While Cutler […]

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Weekly Updates

Each week on Friday a new column written by both Ethan and Phil will be posted here on their blog. Additionally check this site out often for other snippets and video footage of the two of them debating the issues.

About the Authors

Ethan Strimling served in the Maine State Senate as Chair of the Labor Committee, Criminal Justice Committee, and the Homeland Security Task Force, while also serving on Taxation for six years. Prior to, he ran a national PAC focused on electing young leaders and provided policy analysis to Maine US Congressman Tom Andrews. He is currently the CEO of LearningWorks, a not-for-profit providing learning opportunities for at-risk youth, the immigrant community, and low-income families. He also serves as a Senior Political Analyst for WCSH/WLBZ TV and for WGAN radio.

Philip Harriman is the former Chairman of the Yarmouth Town Council and four term State Senator. During his Senate terms he was the ranking Republican on the Appropriations, Health and Human Services, Utilities & Energy and Natural Resources Committees. Harriman is a co-founder of Lebel & Harriman, LLP, a business succession, retirement and estate planning firm located in Falmouth, Maine. He has been in the financial planning profession for over 30 years, starting with former Maine Governor James B. Longley's life insurance agency in 1978. He is the host of Inside Maine heard on 560WGAN News Radio and delivers political opinion and analysis for WCSH & WLBZ the NBC television affiliates in Maine.